The Rural Voice, 1980-06, Page 13Seaforth District High School student and
budding track star, had just completed a
two mile run in 10.46 sec. in a London track
meet the day of the interview, and his mind
is still more on running than farming. His
duties on the farm include feeding the
cattle -although his father points out the
automatic feeder system gets the job down
in about 15 minutes, a far cry from the time
it took Ken Ryan when he was a boy.
Wayne also drives the tractor during
planting and harvest and "likes to get in
and see what's going on" whenever
anything on the farm needs fixing.
Neil, the 13 year old, who Ken Ryan
thinks has a real feel for the farm, feeds the
pigs their chop each night, throws down
hay and straw from the upstairs of the
barn. feeds the calves, and carries the milk
to the milk house where the cream is
separated for sale to Stacey Bros. Dairy in
Mitchell. He also looks after the family's
six goats.
Kids who like
picking stones?
Ken Ryan was a dairy farmer until a few
years ago, when he made the switch to beef
cattle. But the family missed the cows, so
now they have eight dairy cattle, and they
sell the cream and feed the separated milk
to their sows and weaners.
Twelve year old Anne and Jean also
"work all the time" their mother says,
helping in the house as well as keeping an
eye on their younger brother -a more
involved task now that he's discovered the
adventure in going to the barn.
PICKING STONES
Ken Ryan said both his older boys drive
the tractor and all his children "like
picking stones." There's a noticeable look
of disbelief on the kids' faces at this
statement.
When Ken Ryan was a boy, he and his
brother, who now farms across the road,
did most of the barn chores, but his mother
and three sisters all pitched in during
threshing season. Mr. Ryan said the family
stooked their own grain, so it involved
everyone.
Although Ken Ryan never ploughed
behind a horse, he remembers the family's
first tractor was one that was cranked by
hand. Now on the present tractor, "you
just push a button" to start it. Oh, and the
tractor his sons drive "cost almost twice as
much as I paid for the farm." But one turns with farm chores, from collecting eggs to helping feed the heifers. (Photo by Glbt))
advantage the old tractor had over the new
was "at least you knew what was wrong
(with it)."
Mr. Ryan said as a boy he did much the
Don Moylan's family, Patrick, (top step) John, Michael and daughter Marianne all take
THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1980 PG. 11